Concealment device



Aug. 17 1943. w. BUCKNELL CONCEALMENT DEVICE Filed Aug. 30, 1941 2 SheetsSheet 1 INVENJgSii 72 Baa/(welt A'I'I'ORNEYS Au '17, 1943. w. H. BUCKNELL 2,327,159

CONCEALMENT DEVICE Filed Aug- 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H W1 1 3s V p IIINVEINTOR William flarZarz flue/(m2? ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 17, 1943 UNITED v STATES PATENT OFFICE I eoscmifiiif e V v i V M one liah to Anita R. Bucknell;

Application Au ust so, 1341, Serial No; 403,952

14 Claims.

This'invention relates to. a concealment device whichis particularly adapted fiorausain. water but which be used onl'amd. This device is related to the one shown in. my cop-ending application Serial No. 371.783..

It is an object of his invention to provide a device which willmost eliectively shield an cecupant from view when used in water and yet willbe safe, relatively simple in construction, economical to manufacture. easy to transport. and take up a minimum of space in storage;

Other objects of the invention are to provide aconcealment device which is adapted for not only in peacetime pursuits, suchas himting, but also-in war. V p

A feature of therinventien resides i-n the pro vision of especialy advantageous meansenabling thedevice to be used effectively in rough water even though a relatively small portion of the device. projects above the water surface. H V Other features of the device reside inv the p-ro-; vision of, a device having amain body of fleidble material in which very eflective; means are provided for sustaining the flexible body in spredetermined shape and size; in. the provision of a device, adapted; to float in water, providing a water-excluding section in. which a person may be efieetively conceal-ed and which has associated therewith air pocket. means for stabilizing the device; and in the provision of an easily marlipulatable device including protective armor, adapted to substantially conceal a person particularly when used in water, and at the same time permit the person while within the device to move about with ease either on landor in the water.

Other objects and features willhereinafter appear.

. In the drawings: w I p v Figure Its a top View of the device.

Fig.2 is a partial sectional view taken substantially on the line 2.2 of Fig. 1.

. Fig. ,3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-3oi Fig.1. a 7

Fig. is a fragmentary perspective viewof a detail of the supporting unit of the-device,

Fig.5 a perspective View of the supporting unit structure. V Y

Fig. dis a fragmentary perspective View of the device in use. r i

Fig. '7 same view similar to Fig. l, but showing' the device embodying protective armor. V

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary partialsectional view of the device taken substantially on the line 8+8 ofFig. 7.-. v

Fig. 9 is a. fragmentary exploded perspective View showing a rear corner of a modification of the supporting unit structure. and'protective armor construction shown in Figs. '7. and 8.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to 9. but showing the corresponding front corner of the. supoprting structure and'protective armor construction oi that modification.

Before describing the present improvement and mode of operation thereof in detail it should be understood that the invention is notv limited to the details or" construction and arrangement '01. parts shown in the accompanying drawings, which. are merely illustrative er. the present pr.e'

. ierred embodiments, since the invention is capable of other embodiments, and the phraseolcgy employed is for the purpose.- ,oi description and not of limitation. V Y a Referring-more particularly to the drawings there is shown in Figs. 1-6' a device 2i embodying one advantageous. form of the present invention and adaptedto receive an individual for the purpose or concealment. While the device is designed particularly for use in water it maybe usedon land. f,

As most clearly illustrated in Figs. 1-3, the de vice includes a. main body 2l advantageously formed of flexible waterproof 'material, such, for. example, as rubber, rubberized iabricor waterproofed canvas, to exclude water and at the same time to permit easy handling and mainpulation or the device in use and permit ready collapsing and storage of the device when nctin'use. To

' most advantageously receive the individual de siring concealment, the body 2.! of. the device is constructed to provide a main seatingpnrtion 22 ,in which the individual may sit; and a pair of leg-receivingpo'rtions 23 and 24 facilitatingmovement of the individual in Water, particularly shallow water, and onland. l J I Defining the main seating portion}! 'areside walls 25, "and 21, and a bottom 28, the side walls and bottom preferably and as shown being designed to provide, when the device is in an open condition for. use, a shape simulating that of. a flat bottom boat with the side w'aIIs 25' and Z6 converging forwardly to substantially a point from the side wall 21 constituting the back. Secured to the main seating portion and depending downwardly therefrom at .a location spaced forwardlyfrom the back side wall 21, are'the leg-receiving portions which, as shown, terminate at fheir lowerlends in boots 2'9 and 30. To maintain the main se'ating portion in-an open "and'noncollapsed condition-when in use.

there is provided a supporting unit 3|, see Figs. 4 and 5 in particular, preferably including side walls 32, 33 and 34 of a height corresponding to the height of the side walls 25, 26 and 21 of the main seating portion and disposed and shaped to provide the boatlike configuration above described. Advantageously a seat 35 is embodied in the supporting unit 3| and serves not only to prevent a bagging of the bottom 25 of the main seating portion when an individual is seated therein, but also to rigidify and aid in the shaping of the supporting unit as a whole.

As shown, the supporting sides 32, 33 and 34 and seat 35 of the supporting unit may be formed respectively'of separate pieces of light but strong wood, such as plywood, suitably secured together at their meeting edges by nailing strips 36 and corner inserts 31. However, it is to be understood that other constructions and other means of assembly may be utilized in the formation of the supporting unit.

It is of particular importance that the body 2|, including the main seating portion, which is maintained open in a predetermined shape by the supporting unit 3!, and the leg-receiving portions, which are collapsed somewhat about the legs of the individual by water pressure when the device is employed to sustain an individual in water, preferably is so designed and proportioned that it will displace only slightly more than suflicient water to support the weight of an average individual and his equipment, with theupper portion or the side walls 25, 2'6 and 21 substantially level with the surface of the water and with the remaining portions of the body 2| wholly submerged.

As a further means of concealment, there is advantageously embodied in the device an upward extension 38 which, as shown, is preferably formed of the same flexible material as the side walls of the main seating portion and provides in effect a peripheral continuation thereof. Advantageously, fastening means, such as separable fasteners 39, may be secured to tabs 40 located along the upper edge of the extension 38, adapted to cooperate with complementary fasteners 4| secured to laterally offset fingers 42 on the upper ends of struts 43 carried at peripherally spaced points around the sides of the supporting unit 3| to maintain the extension 38 and the side walls of the main seating portion in an extended upward position;

A convenient manner" of associating the struts 3 and the supporting unit 3| in' such a way that they become, in effect, a part thereof, is shown as involving the securing of pairs of aligned brackets to the sidewalls 25, 25 and 21 adjacent the two rear and'one' forward meeting edges thereof, and adjacent the points where the side walls 25 and 25. begin to converge forwardly. Shoulders 45 formed on the respective struts 43 and adapted tooverlie and engage the upper side of the top bracket in each pair serve to arrest downward movement of the struts relative to the supporting unit, and the connected material of the main seating portion and of the extension serves to prevent the struts being pulled upwardlyout of the brackets. Tie straps 46 adapted to pass through holes 45' in the supporting unit, may be and preferably as shown, are provided for securing the latter relative to the bottom of the main seating portion. Also of importance, there isiembodied in the device 20 as a means for, aiding in the support of camouflaging and/or protective material around the main body 2|, and particularly as a means for preventing the entrance of water over the top of the very low-floating seating portion and extension should the surface of the water be rough or uneven, and as a means for stabilizing the device, a special means 41 including a weblike annulus 48 of flexiblematerial, such as used in the construction of the main body 2|, connected to the main seating portion on a line intermediate the top of the side walls 25, 2'6 and 21 and the bottom of the extension 3|. Adapted to support the'outer portions of this weblike annulus, which preferably is shaped to correspond with the shape of the main seating portion, is a float means 49 advantageously formed in a plurality of separate units 50, 5| and 52, one unit being spaced outwardly from each of the converging side walls 25 and 25 and the other unit being spaced outwardly from the back side wall 21.

With this constructiorqany one of the float units 50, 5| or 52,.which are connected to each other and to the main body 2| of the device by the flexible weblike annulus 48, may rise and fall with waves at the watersurface independently of each other or of the main body. This action of the special means #61 as a unit in rising and falling with uneven water at thesuriace and especially the substantially independent action of the several float units 50, 5| and 52, not only serves to stabilize the device as a whole but also to prevent waves from splashing over and into the main seating portion where the occupant is located.

Moreover, the float supported weblike annulus provides a safety means capable of sustaining the main body of the device should it later become overloaded or full of water, and, in addition, provides a shelf where camoufiaging material such as branches, leaves, netting and the like may be disposed about the device to thus cause the same to substantially blend with the surface of the water and the surrounding country.

While preferably and as shown, the respective float units involve defined inflatable sections adjacent to the outer marginal portions of the weblike annulus, which may be specially treated to prevent the escape of air or other gas therefrom, it is recognized that float units of other constructions, as of cork, may be utilized. Inflatable units were illustrated because of the minimum weight thereof and because of the fact that when deflated they occupy a minimum of space. As shown, separate valves 53 of any suitable and conventional kind may be associated with each of the units to facilitate inflation of the same.

In using the device, an individual merely steps into the leg-receiving portions 23 and 24, locating his feet in the boots, and then pulls up the main seating portion 22 to aposition where harness straps 54 may be fitted over his shoulders. As shown, this harness, which may be adjustable to the size of the particular person using the same, is secured, as by any suitable means, to the supporting unit.

With the device thus supported on theuser by the harness he may walk about easily on'land and into the water. When the device has been moved into water of a depth suflicient to float the same, the harness may bereleased from the shoulders and the occupant may sit down in the device with his legs extending downwardly into the portions 23 and 24. i

To stabilize the device and cause the main seating portion thereof to floatv evenly in the water whe the ciman ssits .backwardly th rein. there Preferably i pr vi ed a s pplemental :bnoyins means 5 at t e rea side of the body 1 below the Weblike a nulus 5|, means mayibe form d y an inflatable Lim t, for example. of the nat re of the unit .2, .or as shown, by securing. :a trip 5 of p ferably flexible waterproof material. as y s i h or cement,- alcng its upper and s de m r al ed es to the hack wall 2101 the seating portion, leaving the .bot om marginal edge loose and unsecured. With this construction a :poclzet formed which will hold air, the air being held against escape tram the pocket by the water pressure agains the .open bottom ther of. 2 V f- ,Also, advanta eously and as shown, to enable adjustment of the total weight supported by the device thus cause the main body thereof .to displace approximately a ,Lpredetermined quantity of water when used :by persons of different weight and! or by persons with equipment of different weight; and to enablea further stabilization of the device particularly upon normal movement of the legs, rcrnovablewei-ghts in .the formof innor sole inserts 5] maybe provided for insertion in the boots 29and 3.9. Thus, when-.adevice isselected for use, special inserts 5-7 of different wei ht may be provided depending upon the weight of the particular individual and/or of his equipment.

The shape of the device, as explained above, simulates that of a boat and hence it may easily be moved about in the water by a paddle, .a stick, the hands of the occupant .or by any other suitable and convenient means.

When the occupant bends forward, it willbe appreciated, he is concealed :by the floatuni-ts-fifl, 5i and .512, and the extension 31, and chiefly by the portion of the .device which is substantially entirely submerged in the water. concealment unit including a spray and concealment hood .59 suitably secured-as by Ifasteners 59" to .the back and .side portions of the exten- If desired a a lurali y ofrmain sections 6.3, :54 and-6.5 adapt to extend respectively from the two ,iorwardly c nvers si es 2. and 26 and the back :2] of the main body 21. Qverlying adjacent marginal p rtons at the rear of he ect-ion :63 andifl and .at'the ends of the section 5.5 arerear -.corner sections -66 and 67 which preferably ,ar-e flexibly conn cted, as byspningsfifi, to the mainsecsion, and a head and neck covering "hood .60, may I beutilized. Any convenient means such as straps or the like may be provided :for securingthe hood 5.9 tothe zback .or shoulders of the'person using thesame.

It is to benoted that the mainseating portion provides ample room for agun .or other equip ment the particular ,user may "wish to have with him. Hookslii or other supporting means may be conveniently disposed about the inside of the unit :3! for locating yarious'articles the occupant might wish to use. a

in Figs. '7 and 8, the device shown in Figs. 1-16 is shown as especially adapted tor use in combat, as in war. To that end protective arms-n62 is provided to. shield those portions ofthe device which-project above the surface of the-watenalthough it also may be provided to shield s'u-b-. merged portions of the device. In form illustrated this armor -52 provides a-protective an nulus extending laterally from the upper portion of the extension :38 to and over the outermargin of the float means .49 and weblike connecting section lt.

In order that the several functions of the that and weblike means, including the -stabilizing of the device, the compensating for uneven water at the surface, and the preventing of uneven water at the surface fromflowingover and into the main body of the device, may not the impaired inan appreciable or substantial manner, the 1pm tect-ive armor advantageouslyis constructed in tions :63 and t5}, and :64 and tilau ed thereby. overlying the adjacent iorward ma-rginal portions 0 the :malnsections .63 and 64 is atorward corner section 69 which, similarly to the rear @601- ner sections 85 and \61 ,preferab .y is flexibly :connected to the main sections 63 and 3.4 lapped thereby. I

As shown best in 8, the upper mar ins .of the armor sections 6.3, 6,4 and. are turned downwardly, except adjacent the ends thereof, so as to hook over and be supported by the upper Midge of the body extension 38., Also, preferably the rear corner sections 16.6 and 61 and the forward corner section 6.9, are formed with hooked portions respectively adapted to hook over the two rear corners and the forward corner at the top of the body extension 38. The lower or outer margins of the main sections .63, 84 and :65, as shown, are curved around the outer margins of the float and weblike means, and the corresponding margins of thecomer sections are curved in a similar manner.

"With the ,foregoi construction it will be :appreeiated that whi. the protective armor is effectively maintained in position, the desired in. dependent movement of the several float units relative to each other, nevertheless, is permitted. A modified arrangement for mounting protective armor relative to the main body of the device is illustrated in Figs. 19-10. There hooklike pins 1% are provided adjacent the ends .of the respective armorsections 63a, 54a and 5.5a adapted tofit in elongated slots 'll formed in the ends of angle shaped carrying pieces 12 associated with the upper ends of the supporting unit struts 43. The relation and-construction of adjacent'armor sections 63a and 65a atthe rear ofthe device is shown in Fig. 9, while the relation and construction of adjacent armor sect-ions 6.2a and ida at the forward end of the device is shown in-Fig. 10, It will be appreciated that the relation and construction of the sections Eda and 6.5a at the rear of the device correspondsto that of the sections 63a and 65a, and that corner section-s like the corner sect-ions 6-! and 59 shown in Figs. 7-8 will be provided to lap adjacent margin-a1 portions of the main sections and will be associated with the main sections and with the device as a whole in a manner. corresponding to the illustration in those figures. Advantageously, the hooked portions of the corner sections may be hooked over the inner V portions of the angle shaped carrying pieces -72. With the modified armor plate mounting and construction, which apart from the details described immediately above is the same as that shown in Figs. 7-3, it is seen that a more substantial support is provided for the main armor sections while at the-same time pivotal and limited sliding movement of fbh main armor sections relative to each other and .tothe main "body of the device is permitted by-thepin and slot connection provided by the hooklike pin-s l-fl arid elongated slots 1-]. g i

Variations and modifications may be made within :the scope of thisin-vention and portions of the improvements maybe used without others i Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a body adapted to receive an occupant, having a main seating portion with a bottom and with a pair of forwardlylocated flexible leg-receiving portions extending therefrom; flexible weblike means extending laterally outwardly from said body; and a plurality of separate float means disposed about and spaced laterally from said body, said float means being flexibly connected to each other and to said body by said weblike means, said body extending below said weblike means and said body extend ing below said weblike means being proportioned to alone support the occupant in water, whereby said float means are adapted to raise and lower said weblike extension independently of said body.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a body adapted to receive an occupant, having a main seating portion with side and bottom walls and with a pair of flexible legreceiving portions extending therefrom, said body being proportioned to alone support the occupant in water; flexible weblike means extending outwardly from and connected to said body perimetrically thereof, said body extending below said weblike means; float means spaced laterally from said body and connected to said weblike means; and means on said body, back of said seating portion and below said weblikemeans for providing compensating and equalizing float sup-' port for that part of the body when the occupant sits in the seating portion with his legs in the leg-receiving portions.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a body adapted to receive an occupant; flexible weblike means extending laterally outwardly from and peripherally of said body; and'a plurality of separate float means disposed about and spaced laterally from said body, said float means being flexibly connected to each other and to said body by said weblilze means and said body extending below said float means and said weblike means.

a. In a device of the character described, the combination of a baglike body of flexible material, having side and bottom portions and adapted to receive an occupant; an extension on said body, adapted to extend upwardly from and providing a continuation of the side portions of said body; supporting means for maintaining said side portions in a laterally spread condition relative to each other and in a supported condition extending upwardly relative said bottom portion; a seating section associated with said supporting means and overlying said bottom portion; flexible weblike means extending laterally outwardly from said body intermediate said side portions and said extension; and float means disposed about said body, and spaced laterally from and connected to said-body by said weblike means.

5. In a device'of the character described, the combination of a water-excluding body adapted to receive an occupant, having a main seating portion with side walls and with apair of forwardly located flexible leg-receiving portions extending therefrom, said body being proportioned to alone support the occupant in water; a peripheral upward extension connected to and forming a continuation of said side walls; flexible weblike means extending outwardly from and connected to saidbody intermediate said side walls and said extension; float means spaced laterally from said body and connected to said weblike means; and pocket means having an open bottom, on the outside .of said body, back of said seating portion and below said weblike means, for providing compensating and equalizingfloat support for that part of the body when the occupant sits in the seating portion with his legs in the leg-receiving portions.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of a baglike body of flexible material, having a main seating portion with a bottom and side walls and with forwardly located legreceiving portions, said body being proportioned to alone support the occupant in water; a peripheral upward extension, connected to said side walls of the main seating portion; supporting means for maintaining said side walls in a laterally spread condition relative to each other and in a supported condition extending upwardly relative to said bottom; a seat associated with said supporting means rearwardly of said leg-receiving portions and overlying said bottom; flexible weblike means extending laterally outwardly from and connected to said body intermediate said side walls and said upward extension; and float means disposed around and spaced laterally outward from said body, connected to said weblike means.

'7. In a device of the character described, the combination of a body adapted to receive an occupant, having a main seating portion with laterally opposed side walls converging relative to each other forwardly from a rear side wall; a pair of forwardly located leg-receiving portions of flexible material extending from said main seating portion, having bootlike foot-receiving closures on the ends thereof, said body being proportioned to alone support the occupant in water; a peripheral upward extension, connected to said side walls; flexible weblike means extending outwardly from and connected to said body intermediate said side walls and said extension; separate float means respectively spacedilaterally outward from said opposed side walls and said rear side wall, connected to said weblike means; and weight means in said bootlike closures, adapted to adjust the total weight of the device to compensate for occupants of different weight, within certain limits, and cause the device to displace approximately a predetermined quantity of Water when used by different occupants.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination of a water-excluding body adapted to receive an individual, having a main seating portion with side walls, and having a leg-receiving portion, said body being proportioned to alone support the individual in water; a peripheral upward extension connected to and forming a continuation of said side walls; float means disposed peripherally of and spaced laterally outward from said body; and flexible weblike means disposed peripherally of said body, connected to said float means, and connected to said body intermediate said side walls and said upward extension.

9. In adevice of the character described, the combination of a body adapted to receive an cecupant, having a main seating portion with side Walls and having a pair of forwardly located flexible leg-receiving portions extending therefrom; a peripheral upward extension, connected to the side walls of the main seating portion; float means disposed around and spacedlaterally outwardly from said body; flexible means extending from said body and connected to said float means; and

protective means disposed peripherally of said,

body and extending laterally from the upper portion of said extension to a position overlying said float means. 7

19. In a device of the character described, the combination of a baglike body of flexible material, adapted to receive an occupant, having a main seating portion with a bottom and side walls and with a pair of leg-receiving portions depending from adjacent the forward part thereof; a peripheral upward extension of flexible material, connected to said side walls; flexible weblike means disposed peripherally of said body and extending outwardly therefrom intermediate said side walls and said extension; a plurality of separate float means disposed peripherally of and spaced outwardly laterally from said body, connected to said weblike means; protective means with inner and outer portions, having flexibly connected sections disposed peripherally of and extending outwardly from the upper portion of said extension, the outer portion of said protec tive means being supported by said float means; and means for maintaining said side walls and said extension against collapsing and for supporting the inner portion of said protective means.

11. In a device of the character described, the combination of a baglike body of flexible material having a main seating portion with a bottom and side walls, and having a pair of leg receiving portions depending therefrom adjacent the forward part thereof; an upward extension of flexible material, connected to and providing a continuation of said side walls; supporting means in and connected to said body, for maintaining flexible material of said side walls and said extension in an expanded condition laterally and also in a position supported upwardly relative to said bottom; an occupant-supporting seat associated with said supporting means and overlying said bottom; flexible weblike means extending laterally from said body intermediate said side walls and said extension; and float means disposed peripherally of said body and connected to said weblike means.

12. In a device of the character described, the combination of a body adapted to receive an occupant, having a main seating portion with laterally opposedside walls converging relative to each other forwardly from a rear side wall; a pair of forwardly located leg-receiving portions of flexible material extending from said main seating portion, having bootlike foot-receiving closures on the ends thereof, said body being proportioned to alone support the occupant inwater; a peripheral upward extension, connected to said side walls; flexible weblike means extending outwardly from and connected to said body intermediate said side walls and said extension; and separate float means respectively spaced laterally outward from said opposed side walls and said rear side wall, connected to said weblike' ly from and connected to said body intermediate said side walls and said extension; and float means respectively spaced laterally outward from said opposed side Walls and said rear side Wall, connected to said weblike means.

14. In a device of the character described, the combination of a baglike water-excluding body of flexible material, adapted to receive an individual, having a main seating portion with side walls, and having a leg-receiving portion, said body being proportioned to alone support the individual in Water; a peripheral upward extension connected to and forming a'continuation of said side Walls; flexible weblikemeans disposed peripherally of said body and connected to said body intermediate said side walls and said upward extension; and a plurality of separate float means connected to said Weblike means and disposed peripherally of and spaced laterally.out Ward from said body.

WILLIAM HARLAN BUCKNELL. 

